This publication presents a range of education and labour force statistics produced from the 2001 Census of Population and Housing for New South Wales (NSW). For comparative purposes, it includes 1996 Census data presented on 2001 Census geography.

The tables in this publication provide selected characteristics of the population for Statistical Divisions (SDs), Statistical Subdivisions (SSDs) and Statistical Local Areas (SLAs). The purpose of these tables is to allow a broad comparison of characteristics between geographic areas.

This publication also contains the Basic Community Profile (BCP) for NSW. This set of tables is provided to illustrate the wide range of data available from the Census. The BCP consists of 33 tables. This publication contains tables 22 to 33 which focus on education and labour force characteristics. The remainder of the BCP, tables 1 to 21, is published in Census of Population and Housing: Selected Social and Housing Characteristics for Statistical Local Areas, New South Wales (cat. no. 2015.1).

The statistics in this publication are presented on the basis of where people were counted on Census Night ('as enumerated' counts).

One of the important features of the Census is that it describes the characteristics of Australia's population for small geographic areas and small population groups. While not available in this publication, data at the smallest geographic level (Collection District) are available in a range of census products. For more information on these products, please refer to the Appendix-Census Products and Services. Concepts and definitions used in this publication are explained in the Glossary and more detailed information is available in the 2001 Census Dictionary (cat. no. 2901.0). The Explanatory Notes in this publication provide a discussion of the scope and coverage of the Census, the different measures of population, and the limitations of census data.

This publication is one of a series of publications which provide data at the SLA level for each state and territory. A similar publication is also available for the whole of Australia, providing data at SSD level. See the Appendix-Census Products and Services for more information.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

LABOUR FORCE

In New South Wales (NSW), the labour force grew from 2,806,544 to 2,961,592 persons aged 15 years and over, an increase of 5.5%, compared with 6.6% for Australia.

EMPLOYED

In 2001, there were 2,748,396 employed persons of which 1,805,433 were full-time workers and 858,483 were part-time. This represented an increase of 7.4% (189,521 persons) since 1996 which was the third smallest increase of all states and territories, after Tasmania (0.2%) and South Australia (7.2%).

Full-time/Part-time

In 2001, there was a fall in the proportion of full-time workers who represented 61.0% of the labour force, down from 62.7% in 1996.

In the period 1996 to 2001, the number of persons employed part-time grew from 741,211 in 1996 to 858,483 in 2001, an increase of 15.8%, compared with 17.6% for Australia. These workers represented 29.0% of the labour force in 2001, compared with 26.4% in 1996.

Among most of the NSW Statistical Subdivisions (SSDs), both the unemployment rate and full-time employment rate was lower in 2001 than in 1996. The lower unemployment is associated with increased part-time employment.

The only SSDs to experience an increase in the proportion of full-time workers were Murray - Darling (to 64.7% in 2001 from 61.8% in 1996), Inner Sydney (to 67.1% from 65.9%) and Macquarie - Barwon (to 59.6% from 58.9%). The Murray - Darling SSD also experienced the only decrease in the proportion of part-time workers (to 26.5% from 26.8%).

The SSDs which recorded the largest decreases in the proportion of full-time workers since 1996 were Central Tablelands (to 59.3% from 63.4%) and Far West (to 53.9% from 58.0%). These SSD also recorded some of the largest increases in part-time workers (Central Tablelands (to 29.4% from 25.1%) and Far West (to 30.9% from 26.3%)). The Off-Shore Areas & Migratory SSD and the Jervis Bay Territory also recorded large decreases in full-time workers and large increases in part-time workers, but were the only SSDs to experience a rise in the unemployment rate.

In 2001, the highest proportions of full-time workers, as a proportion of persons in the labour force, were recorded in the Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) of Sydney - Inner (77.3%), Windouran (75.2%) and Unincorp. Far West (75.0%). The SLA of Off-Shore Areas & Migratory also recorded 84.4%.

The highest concentrations of part-time workers, as proportions of persons in the labour force, were recorded in the SLAs of Lord Howe Island (46.4%), Byron (40.1%), Eurobodalla (37.9%), Great Lakes and Coffs Harbour - Pt B (both 37.1%).

Occupation

In 2001, the largest occupation groups were Professionals (526,101 persons or 19.1%), Intermediate Clerical, Sales and Service Workers (453,866 persons or 16.5%), Tradespersons and Related Workers (327,996 persons or 11.9%), Associate Professionals (319,470 persons or 11.6%), and Managers and Administrators (259,687 persons or 9.4%). These proportions are similar to 1996.

Within the Sydney SLAs, the highest proportions of persons employed as Professionals were recorded in North Sydney (37.7%), Woollahra (36.1%), Leichhardt (36.0%), Ku-ring-gai and Lane Cove (both 35.4%). Outside Sydney, the SLAs of Newcastle - Inner (36.9%), Yarrowlumla - Pt B (29.1%), Yarrowlumla - Pt A (24.6%), Kiama (24.1%) and Armidale Dumaresq - City (23.9%) also held high proportions of persons employed as Professionals.

High proportions of persons employed as Intermediate Clerical, Sales and Service Workers were recorded in the metropolitan SLAs of Campbelltown (21.1%), Penrith (20.7%), Blacktown - South-West (20.6%), Blacktown - South-East (20.4%) and Blacktown - North (20.3%). Outside Sydney the highest proportions were in the SLAs of Grafton (19.7%) and Queanbeyan (18.8%).

The highest proportions of persons employed as Tradespersons and Related Workers were recorded in SLAs outside Sydney, notably Singleton (20.3%), Cobar (18.1%) and Port Stephens (17.8%), Hawkesbury (17.0%) and Wollondilly (16.8%) had the highest proportions within Sydney. The Off-Shore Areas & Migratory recorded SLA 32.2%.

The SLAs of Lord Howe Island (19.0%), Snowy River (17.9%), Sydney - Inner (17.4%) and Woollahra (16.0%) recorded the highest proportions of persons working as Associate Professionals. Off-Shore Areas & Migratory recorded 21.2%.

High proportions of persons employed as Managers and Administrators were recorded outside Sydney in the SLAs of Conargo (56.6%), Windouran (51.7%), Severn (44.7%), Jerilderie (43.2%) and Unincorp. Far West (40.6%). Within the metropolitan area, high proportions were recorded in the SLAs of Sydney - Inner (24.8%), Hunter's Hill (19.0%) and Mosman (18.9%).

Industry

In 2001, the four largest industries of employment in NSW were Retail Trade (390,914 persons or 14.2%), Property and Business Services (334,299 persons or 12.2%), Manufacturing (316,113 persons or 11.5%) and Health and Community Services (258,522 persons or 9.4%). These industries were also the top four industries in NSW in 1996.

Since 1996 there has been an increase in the proportions of persons working in Property and Business Services (to 12.2% from 10.6%) and Retail Trade (to 14.2% from 13.3%), while there was a decline in the proportion of persons working in Manufacturing (to 11.5% from 12.2%) and Wholesale Trade (to 5.6% from 6.3%).

At the SLA level, the highest proportions of persons employed in Retail Trade were recorded in Eurobodalla (20.8%), Lismore Pt A (20.7%), Coffs Harbour - Pt A (20.4%), Hastings - Pt A (20.3%) and Invernell - Pt B (20.1%), all outside Sydney. Within Sydney, the highest proportions were recorded in the SLAs of Wyong (18.5%), Gosford (16.2%), Penrith (16.0), Campbelltown (15.3%) and Camden (15.1%).

The highest proportions of persons employed in Property and Business Services were recorded in the metropolitan SLAs of North Sydney (30.6%), Mosman (28.8%), Sydney - Inner (28.1%), Woollahra (26.0%) and Willoughby (24.9%). In the rest of the State, the highest proportions were recorded in Yarrowlumla - Pt B (16.2%), Newcastle - Inner (14.7%) and Yarrowlumla - Pt A (13.6%).

The number of unemployed persons decreased by 13.9% to 213,196 in 2001 from 247,669 in 1996. The unemployment rate fell to 7.2% in 2001 from 8.8% in 1996. The unemployment rate was 7.4% for Australia in 2001.

While the number of unemployed persons looking for full-time work fell by 21.5% (to 152,074 in 2001 from 193,759 in 1996), those unemployed persons looking for part-time work increased by 13.4% (to 61,122 in 2001 from 53,910 in 1996).

At the SSD level, the largest declines in the unemployment rates between 1996 and 2001 were recorded in Port Macquarie (to 10.2% from 15.0%), Tweed Heads (to 12.2% from 15.9%), Illawarra SD Bal (to 8.6% from 12.2%) and Macquarie-Barwon (to 10.1% from 13.5%).

In 2001, there were 1,809,468 persons with a qualification, accounting for 36.2% of all persons aged 15 years and over. Between 1996 and 2001 this proportion rose from 31.5% (an increase of 324,072 persons). This compares with a rise to 34.7% from 30.0% for Australia.

Of those with a qualification, close to half (819,902 persons or 45.3%) held a Certificate, 28.0% (506,806 persons) held a Bachelor Degree, 17.3% (312,187 persons) held an Advanced Diploma and Diploma, and 9.4% (170,573 persons) held a Postgraduate Degree or Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate as their highest qualification.

High proportions of persons with a Bachelor Degree or higher as their highest level of qualification were recorded in both metropolitan and regional SLAs. North Sydney (28.5%), Mosman (27.2%), Woollahra (25.8%), Ku-ring-gai (24.6%) and Lane Cove (24.2%) were the highest within Sydney. Outside Sydney, the highest proportions were recorded in Yarrowlumla - Pt B (32.2%), Newcastle - Inner (25.6%), Yarrowlumla - Pt A (23.0%), Armidale Dumaresq Bal (20.7%) and Snowy River (18.7%).

Of persons aged 15 years and over, high proportions with an Advanced Diploma and Diploma were dispersed throughout the State. The SLAs of Manly and Ku-ring-gai (both 10.0%), Mosman (9.9%), North Sydney (9.7%) and Pittwater (9.5%) within Sydney, and Lord Howe Island (10.1%) and Cabonne - Pt A (9.5%) outside Sydney, noted the highest proportions of persons with this qualification as their highest level. The Jervis Bay Territory (10.1%) and the Off-Shore Areas & Migratory SLA (9.6%) also had high proportions of persons with an Advanced Diploma and Diploma.

Concentrations of persons with a Certificate as their highest level of qualification were registered in SLAs outside Sydney, including Cabonne (23.7%) and Lord Howe Island (22.6%). In Sydney the highest proportions were in the SLAs of Sutherland Shire - West (22.7%) and Wollondilly (22.2%). Again, Off-Shore Areas and Migratory (24.3%) recorded a high proportion.

Field of Study

Of all persons aged 15 years and over with a qualification, qualifications were most commonly held in the fields of Management and Commerce (432,107 persons or 17.8%), Engineering and Related Technologies (431,047 persons or 17.8%), Health (195,007 persons or 8.0%), and Education (166,276 persons or 6.9%). Other, which includes Society and Culture, Creative Arts, Food, Hospitality and Personal Services, and Mixed Programmes (397,923 persons or 16.4%) also recorded a high proportion.